Chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy released 71,294.58 crore towards input subsidy benefiting 11, 61,000 farmers who lost their crops due to drought during 2023 and Michaung cyclone in December last.

Releasing the amount with the click of a button from his camp office at Tadepalli on Wednesday, he said that Andhra Pradesh is the only state which has been paying input subsidy to farmers for crop loss in the same season.

Out of the ?1,294.58 crore, ?847 crore is being paid as input subsidy to 6, 96,000 farmers hit by drought in 103 mandals of seven districts while the rest is paid to 4, 61, 000 farmers who suffered crop loss due to Michaung cyclone.

Govt disbursed 23,262 crore under input subsidy to 34.41 lakh farmers who lost their crops due to natural calamities in the last 57 months, he said.

For the first time, govt has been handholding farmers at every step through RBKs and village secretariats and crop loss compensation is made through e-cropping assessments and displaying the lists transparently.

This helps farmers and the official machinery to make corrections so that farmers would not suffer any financial loss and govt has been taking several steps to avoid financial loss to farmers.

Citing the Michaung cyclone, the chief minister said that govt purchased 3,25,000 tonnes of discolored paddy and added that financial assistance under Rythu Bharosa is benefiting 87 per cent of farmers who own less than 1 hectare of land as it helps them meet 80 per cent of the cultivation expenses.

The chief minister said while the previous TDP govt paid only 23,411 crore to 30, 85,000 farmers as crop insurance compensation during its five-year term, 87,802 crore was paid to 54, 55,000 farmers in the last 57 months towards insurance.

Source - https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com